QA Responses Pier 36 25 OCT 2011 1330.pdf

Pier 36 AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 1 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-11-B-0005

The intent of this section is to provide questions & comments received from interested parties on the above solicitation, and our responses to those questions and comments. It is possible that the information below does not reflect 100% of the questions and responses. The questions and comments do not necessarily represent questions received from any particular contractor.

Questions and responses are provided for information only and are not made part of the solicitation. Only a formal amendment (SF30) to the solicitation changes the solicitation.

Changes to any previous responses in this document will be struck-through and new, updated responses will be provided as appropriate.

No. RFP Section Question Response

SITE VISIT: I can’t seem to find the time and date for the site visit.

Time: 10:00am Date: October 12, 2011 Location: following the guidelines on page 21 of 393, FAR clause 52.236-27 Site Visit Construction.

Answered on 30 Sep 2011; 11:55am 2 Section SPN14-4001, part (3) indicates that all inquiries should be received not later than 14 calendar days prior to the bid opening which results in a deadline of October 6, 2011. We request that the deadline for inquiries be delayed until after the pre-bid meeting which is scheduled for October 12 so that there is adequate time to ask questions after the site visit.

The answer will change to any question asked within 5 days of bid opening might not get answered in time to be useful.

However, the CoE will make every effort possible to answer all your questions in order to make your bid accurate.

Answered on 6 October 6, 2011: 11:55am 3 Appendix I contains an Application for

Encroachment Permit from the San Francisco Port Commission. Page 2 of the application state that a California contractor’s license is required. Please confirm that a California contractor’s license is not required for this federal project.

A contractor has to meet the licensing requirements in the State of California. If a contractor does not have a valid license to perform work in the area of work he/she would not be responsive to the solicitation

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 2 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-11-B-0005

4 In regards to the “offer guarantee” requirement. I just need to verify that a 10% Bid Bond would meet this requirement.

52.228-1 BID GUARANTEE (SEP 1996)

(a) Failure to furnish a bid guarantee in the proper form and amount, by the time set for opening of bids, may be cause for rejection of the bid.

(b) The bidder shall furnish a bid guarantee in the form of a firm commitment, e.g., bid bond supported by good and sufficient surety or sureties acceptable to the Government, postal money order, certified check, cashier's check, irrevocable letter of credit, or, under Treasury Department regulations, certain bonds or notes of the United States. The Contracting Officer will return bid guarantees, other than bid bonds, (1) to unsuccessful bidders as soon as practicable after the opening of bids, and (2) to the successful bidder upon execution of contractual documents and bonds (including any necessary coinsurance or reinsurance agreements), as required by the bid as accepted.-

(c) The amount of the bid guarantee shall be 20 percent of the bid price or $3,000,000.00, whichever is less.-

(d) If the successful bidder, upon acceptance of its bid by the Government within the period specified for acceptance, fails to execute all contractual documents or furnish executed bond(s) within 10 days after receipt of the forms by the bidder, the Contracting Officer may terminate the contract for default.-

(e) In the event the contract is terminated for default, the bidder is liable for any cost of acquiring the work that exceeds the amount of its bid, and the bid guarantee is available to offset the difference.

(End of provision)

Answered on 6 October 6, 2011: 6:20pm.

5 How do I acknowledge an amendment? Sign and provide the SF1442, “Block 18” for each amendment issued and/or sign and provide the SF30 for each amendment issued. NOTE: ALL AMENDMENTS

NEED TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AT THE TIME OF BID

OPENING OR YOUR BID CAN BE CONSIDERED NON-

RESPONSIVE.

Answered on 6 October 6, 2011: 11:55am

6 Is this procurement unrestricted? Yes, it is an “unrestricted” procurement – open to all sized businesses – NO SET-ASIDES for this procurement.

Answered on 6 October 6, 2011: 6:20pm.

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 3 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-11-B-0005

Contract drawing DP-503, in the description of the Phase 1 scope of work, in Item 1, refers to a drawing #8469-30-4 prepared by the San Francisco Port Commission. Please make that drawing available to the bidders.

Included in amendment 0004

Answered on October 11, 2011: 5:20pm.

Please provide details of size and grade of existing rock fill in front of and below the existing seawall.

The rock dike and seawall were constructed in the early 1900’s and there are no As-Build drawings. However, we have posted design drawings that give a pretty good idea of their construction. Refer to Question #7

On page 15 of 393 of the specifications, in Note 1 at the top of the page, the requirement is stated that "Prices must be submitted on all individual items of this bid schedule." Does this include the 3 items starting with 0000 on page 8 of 393?

Bid items start with Bid Item #0001

Does the scope of Bid Item Number 4 - Demolition of the Pier 36 Building also include the Pier 36 Building Hazmat Abatement that is the subject of OPTIONAL Bid Item 0008? I do not believe that building could be demolished without Hazmat Abatement also being performed.

There is a possibility that HAZMAT abatement be contracted out through a separate USACE contract and we will know for sure one way or another if that is the case no later than 28 OCT 2011. For the time being on this contract we are considering HAZMAT abatement as an OPTION. An update to this question will be made available no later than

28 OCT.

Please confirm that Bid Items 1, 2, and 3 are only to include that work necessary to support the BASE BID items, and should NOT include any of the work required to support any optional items, since it is apparently unknown whether any optional items will be awarded. How will that support work required for any optional items that are awarded be paid for?

The bid schedule was amended to include two additional Line Items applicable to the Optional Items as follow: Line Item 0014 Safety and Traffic Control for Optional Items and Line Item 0015; Environmental Protection/Monitoring for Optional Items.

Please confirm that Optional Bid Item 0011 defines "Marginal Wharf" as only the portion of the wharf supported by the piles/caissons, and not the piles/caissons themselves.

Item 0011 refers to all structural portion(s) of the “marginal wharf” including deck, beams and other supporting structures except piles and caissons. See also, items 0012 and 0013.

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 4 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-11-B-0005

Answered on October 11, 2011: 5:20pm.

Please review and confirm that the scopes of work in Optional Bid Items 11, 12, and 13 do not overlap and are mutually exclusive.

The marginal wharf is composed of structural deck and supporting structures, plus piles and caissons. Bid items 0011, 0012 and 0013 don’t overlap.

Is there a Hazardous Materials Survey for Bid W912P7-11-B-0005?

Yes. See Document titled “Pier 36 – HAZMAT Survey Report (SEP2009)” by Winzler and Kelly. This document was uploaded in Amendment #2.

Answered on October 19, 2011: 4:20pm.

15 Was the site visit a mandatory requirement to be able to bid this project?

No it was not mandatory.

Answered on October 17, 2011: 12:20pm.

16 Per addendum #3, is the following a requirement for the prime contractor or subcontractor performing the water based demolition? Can a subcontractor qualify for the marine experience under a prime contractor?

Yes, a subcontractors experience can count .

Answered on October 17, 2011: 12:20pm.

17 Is this marine demolition experience mandatory? Is it mandatory only for marine demolition on the project? Most of the work could reasonably be performed from the existing deck minimizing the need for marine equipment/experience.

Marine demolition experience is necessary regardless of planned demolition method. For purposes of this solicitation, marine demolition is demolition of a structure located above and/or under water. The pre-award survey will be changed to reflect this definition of marine demolition.

Question 1: Spec. para. 3.2 on page 149 relates to providing office facilities for the COR, but only IF there is no office space is nearby. Since it should be known at this time whether such office space is available, please remove this uncertainty from the specifications. In the event office space IS available, as would seem to be the case, would the requirements stated in OTHER REQUIREMENTS of that paragraph still apply?

Update: The contractor has to find office space within the staging area or rent/lease space in the open market. The office has to be equipped as indicated whether the office is a trailer or regular office space. For leasing space in the project staging area call: POSF, Elliott Riley (415) 274-

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 5 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

Question 2: Page 180, paragraph 1.8.I states that “the Contractor shall provide and place bracing and shoring to prevent movement or damage to structures and improvements which are to remain.” See also similar wording on page 179, Paragraph 1.5, in the first subparagraph, and also the inclinometer requirements in the last paragraph on page 178. It is apparent from the inclinometer requirements that the Owner anticipates that movement of the seawall is a possible result of the demolition required by the contract. Please confirm that the Contractor is not responsible for "providing and placing bracing and shoring to prevent movement or damage" to the seawall and that any such work would be beyond the scope of this contract.

CLARIFICATION OF INTENT: No bracing of the Seawall is required per the current specifications. However, if sections of the seawall become unstable and shoring and bracing becomes a necessity, clearly that would be a change condition.

NOTE:

A structural analysis was conducted to estimate the stability of the seawall for a condition prior to and following the removal/demolition of the Marginal Wharf; and the analysis show that small displacements of the concrete seawall may be detected. Consequently, there is the requirement of installing inclinometers and monitoring potential displacements that may occur prior to and during demolition of the marginal wharf. Demolition work will be halted if the displacement becomes excessive as defined by the Specifications 02 41 00 DEMOLITION, Section 1.3.13 Concrete Bulkhead Monitoring During Demolition.

Answered on October 19, 2011: 4:20pm.

Question 3: On page 180 of the specifications, the last paragraph on the page refers to removing the top 2’-6” of seawall along the length of the project, “as indicated on the project drawings”. Where is that indicated? As far as B/DP501, the detail takes you to 2/DP-501, which only requires the beam and deck to be sawed off at the front face, no demo at the top of the wall. On DP503, that section does mention removal of the top two feet of the seawall, but says it is NIC. Please confirm removing the top of the wall is NOT part of this contract.

Page 180. Specification 02 41 00, DEMOLITION, Section

1.9 Seawall Demolition. This section is in ERROR. Detail 2

on DP-501 is correct. Removing the top of the existing seawall IS NOT part of this work.

Answered on October 19, 2011: 4:20pm.

Question 4: Amendment 4, in item 14, says the bid is due “at 1 pm (est)”. Please clarify.

The bid due date time is 1:00pm (pacific coast time) on the 27th of October.

Question 5: On page 18 of 393 in the specifications, “Clauses Incorporated by Reference” includes clause “52.232.15 Progress Payments Not Included”. Since other portions of the specifications clearly include provisions for progress payments, please remove this clause from the list.

Concur … will be removed in an upcoming amendment.

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 6 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

Question 6: I do not find in the specifications where the amount of the bid bond is stated. A bid guarantee is clearly required by paragraph 13.B of the Solicitation Form 1442, but what specific form and amount of guarantee is required?

See question 4 on this document and amendment 0003.

Question 7: Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Insurance would certainly apply to work on this project, and any contractors would need to have such coverage. Yet the insurance specifications on page 321 do not include it. Please review this insurance coverage requirement.

See amendment 0005 for insurance requirements.

The insurance specifications on pg 321 are solely for the Encroachment Permit from the Port of San Francisco, and do not reflect the insurance requirements for the overall project.

Will there be another opportunity to walk the project?

There is nothing scheduled or planned for another site visit.

Is there any further detail on the asbestos roofing materials, specifically what type of roofing material is found on the roof and its thickness?

No further information is available. All information is included in the HAZMAT Survey. See question 14 of this document.

Answered on October 19, 2011: 4:20pm.

Is there any data available on what the weight limits of Pier 36 are? Specifically Is there any data currently available that would inform the demolition contractors of what the weight limit would be for the equipment needed for the building demolition scope of work?

There is no data available regarding the weight limits of Pier 36.

Answered on October 19, 2011: 4:20pm.

Is there a difference between a wharf and a pier?

We have wharf demo experience … would that qualify as pier demo?

In terms of demolition experience, wharf demolition will qualify as pier demolition, and vice versa. Both structures are marine based and, as such, fall under marine demolition.

Answered on October 19, 2011: 4:20pm.

1) Regarding Concrete Rehabilitation, on page 291 of the specifications, Par 1.5.F refers to "Subsection 3.1.B". Where is that subsection located? Please Which findings does the contractor has to provide from the exploratory core hole drilling?

The correct reference is Subsection 3.1.2 B, located on page 295. “ Core 4 in. diameter exploratory holes where shown on the contract drawings or where indicated by the Owners Representative”

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 7 of 12

On specification page 292, under Par 1.6.3 - Testing Services, the first sentence states: “The Port will engage an approved testing lab to perform all Phase I crack repair exploration required to determine scope of repair”.

a) Does this mean that the exploratory core hole drilling depicted on drawing DP-503 will be performed by the testing lab and is NOT the responsibility of the contractor?

b)If so, please disclose the name and role of the testing lab and the estimated time it will take to complete the exploratory coring of the seawall and verification of a previously repaired crack indicated in Par 3.1.1

This wording as noted on left is incorrect.

UPDATE. The Contractor will be responsible and shall provide all crack repair exploration required to determine the scope of repair.

Also, please refer to Sheet DP-503, Phase 1, Exploration and Repair of Existing Crack ( on Seawall)

Par 3.2.4 – Placement – Item E; Please indicate how the contractor will be reimbursed if the actual grout quantities pumped exceeds the theoretical quantities calculated from the dimensions shown on drawing DP-503.

Pending …

On contract Drawing DP-003: Please confirm that the piles depicted on the Pier 34 location are not part of this project as is suggested by the staging limits of work shown on the drawing.

The group of piles depicted on the Pier 34 footprint as shown on Sheet DP-003 are non-existent. However, there are 10 Caissons supporting the marginal wharf within that footprint that are part of the project and ought to be removed. See Bid-line-Item 0013 and sheet DP-113 for clarification.

Bid Item No. 0009 is for the removal/demolition of timbers including standing and submerged piles and any collapsed pier structures in the "debris field" shown on drawing DP-112. Since virtually all of the items to be removed under this bid item are submerged, the amount of work is unknowable and cannot be quantified by the bidding contractors.

Since the work cannot be quantified the bidders cannot accurately price it and the Owner will be set up for disputes after the job is awarded. To create parity in the bids, we suggest you create an allowance item with a set bid price that would later be measured and paid for on a force account basis to cover the actual costs incurred plus allowed markup.

For bidding purposes the quantity to bid on line item 0009 will be Tons and for uniformity use the following estimated quantities to bid on:

a) 720 Tons of Timber

b) All other debris; 1420 Tons

Refer to Bid- Line-Item 009.

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 8 of 12

Concerning drawing DP-503, Phase 2 – Stage 1 and Stage 2: Please clarify the number of vertical 4” diameter core holes to be drilled. The plans call for 225 holes total, as seen in Phase 2 – Stage 2 item 2.A. However, over the 260 lf of crack repair (per Phase 1, item 4.b) that would result in holes at 14” on center, instead of the 21” to 36” spacing called for and shown the table in items 1 and 3 of Phase 2 Stage 1 work. How did you get 225 holes?

10-20 2058

Amendment 3, on page 1 of the Pre-Award Survey, in item A, refers to “Schedules A-D (Attached).” I do not believe those schedules were attached?

The correct supplemental schedule should read A through B. See the required supplemental information required in amendment 0005.

10-20 2058 Answered on October 25, 2011: 12:00pm.

In Amendment 3, Items B and C of the Pre-Award Survey requires detailed confidential financial data to “be submitted with your bid or your bid could be considered non-responsive.” Many private companies will object to providing such confidential information with the bid, which has certainly not been required on other Corps of Engineers projects. 100% performance and payment bonds are required of the Contractor, which should ameliorate the concerns of the awarding agency.

This contractor will likely choose to not bid the project rather than provide this financial information, and suspects others will do the same.

Please remove this requirement for providing financial information.

The Government will keep all submitted financial information strictly confidential. However, the requested information goes to the Government's ability to assess the responsibility/capability of the contractor to perform the contract.

10-20 2058 Answered on October 24, 2011: 12:00pm.

In order to accommodate further inspection of the building to be demolished, please schedule another opportunity, preferably on Monday morning, for contractors to visit the site.

10-20 2058

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 9 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-11-B-0005

In Addendum 5, Optional Item 0009 for removal/demolition of "Timbers Standing and Submerged including Debris from Collapsed pier..." has been changed to provide for quantities of two classifications of material to be removed, all in the one Lump Sum bid amount. Our earlier question (your Q&A #33) had asked that an "Allowance" dollar amount be established for this item, so the bid prices associated with removing unknown and unseen submerged materials could be fairly compared between bidders. As it stands, while the quantity of 1420 tons of "Debris from Collapsed Pier" has been provided the composition and characteristics of this debris are not adequately specified and remain unknown. In the absence of further clarification, it will be assumed that this Debris from Collapsed Pier is no more contaminated or hazardous than the Timber materials to be removed as part of this item.

No sampling, testing or special handling that may be required for potentially or actually hazardous or contaminated materials will be included in the bid price.

Amendment 3: “Pre-Award Survey”.

Item A. Completed Contractor Experience Data with Supplemental Schedules A through D attached.

The supplemental schedules A through D were not included in the amendment. Please provide.

The correct supplemental schedule should read A through B. See the required supplemental information required in amendment 0005.

Answered on October 25, 2011: 12:00pm.

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 10 of 12

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

SOLICITATION NUMBER W912P7-11-B-0005

Amendment 5: “Preparation of Subcontracting Plan” (a) See FAR 52.219-9, Section 00700, of this solicitation.

Is a subcontracting plan required to be included with the bid?

Due to the short window between bid opening, award and performance period large businesses are asked to submit their subcontracting plan with their bid.

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 11 of 12

AS OF: 25 October 2011 1330 Page 12 of 12